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Thursday, April 30, 2015
Negromancer's Fave Poli-Reads - April 2015 Edition - Update #16
From RSN: Bernie Sanders is running for the Democratic nomination in 2016.
From TheIntercept: There is a protest over a PEN Award to Charlie Hebdo.
From AlJazeera: Killers on Blackwater payroll get long prison sentences... their boss needs to follow them to jail.
From RSN: Free range parenting vs. busy body servants of the police state.
From TheHill: Watch President Obama trash talk Washington Wizards forward, Paul Pierce.
From Salon: White Christian America in sinking numbers.
From YahooPolitics: Hilary is in.
From TheIntercept: American media talks about the "Iran nuclear deal," but never interviews any Iranians, while allowing pro-Israel voices to screech their side.
From NBC: Your professor might be on food stamps.
From FirstLook: Glenn Greenwald on how political smears in the United States remain the same.
From GuardianUK: Honestly, there is no chance of Mike Huckabee being President. Besides, for all his bigotry, I'm pretty sure that he is gay.
From RobertReich: The rise of the non-working rich.
From RSN: Obama makes historical breakthrough on Iran. Now, white guys in the Senate get to show how much they envy the achievements of Black men.
From TIME: Indiana tries Sharia law fro LGBTQ. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar talks about the state of Indiana being on the wrong side of history.
From ThinkProgress: Maggots and rats on privatized prison food. Michigan in need of a violent revolution.
From BuzzFlash: Roundup is safe, but Monsanto lobbyist won't drink it.
From RSN: Barbra Streisand - Obama Has Turned the Economy Around.
From Esquire: Charles Pierce takes down clown David Brooks on "religious freedom."
Labels:
Barack Obama,
Barbra Streisand,
RSN,
Truthout
Wednesday, April 29, 2015
VIZ Media Announces "Free Comic Book Day 2015" Support
VIZ MEDIA ANNOUNCES SUPPORT FOR 2015 FREE COMIC BOOK DAY WITH EXCITING SHONEN JUMP AND PERFECT SQUARE SAMPLERS
Support Local Comics Retailers On May 2nd And Receive
Two FREE Samplers Featuring POKÉMON, JOJO’S BIZARRE ADVENTURE And YU-GI-OH
VIZ Media announces its participation in the 2015 Free Comic Book Day with a special FREE Shonen Jump manga (graphic novel) sampler featuring action-packed previews of JOJO'S BIZARRE ADVENTURE: PART 1 - PHANTOM BLOOD and YU-GI-OH! The company’s all-ages Perfect Square imprint also participates with a FREE POKÉMON ADVENTURES X•Y manga sampler highlighting the latest series from the venerable hit entertainment brand.
Scheduled for Saturday, May 2nd, 2015 at thousands of retail locations nationwide, Free Comic Book Day is an annual promotional campaign developed by the North American comic book industry to bring new readers of all ages and interests into independent comic book stores. Free Comic Book Day began in 2002 and is coordinated by the industry's single largest distributor, Diamond Comic Distributors. Readers can visit freecomicbookday.com to find a local participating retailer in their area.
VIZ Media participates this year as a Gold Level Sponsor and offers two FREE exclusive releases (available while supplies last).
VIZ MEDIA SHONEN JUMP FREE COMIC BOOK DAY 2015 SAMPLER
Check out the kinetic action of two smash hit titles from VIZ Media’s Shonen Jump imprint – JOJO’S BIZARRE ADVENTURE and YU-GI-OH!
Dive into the paranormal action saga, JOJO’S BIZARRE ADVENTURE (rated ‘T+’ for Older Teens), by creator Hirohiko Araki. The legendary manga series is now available in English for the first time, in a deluxe hardcover edition featuring color pages and newly-drawn cover art! JOJO’S BIZARRE ADVENTURE is a groundbreaking title, famous for its outlandish characters, wild humor and frenetic battles. A multigenerational tale of the heroic Joestar family and their never-ending battle against evil! Don’t miss the print debut of JOJO'S BIZARRE ADVENTURE: PART 1 - PHANTOM BLOOD, Volume 2 on May 5th; MSRP: $19.99 U.S. / $22.99 CAN.
Manga creator Kazuki Takahashi’s famed series, YU-GI-OH! (rated ‘T’ for Teens) depicts the fantastic adventures of tenth-grader Yugi, a boy who always had his head in some game – until he solved the Millennium Puzzle, an Egyptian artifact containing the spirit of a master gambler from the age of the pharaohs! Possessed by the puzzle, Yugi becomes Yu-Gi-Oh, the King of Games, and challenges evildoers to the Shadow Games...weird games with high stakes and high risks! Catch the print debut of the latest YU-GI-OH! 3-in-1 omnibus edition, Volume 2, on May 5th, 2015; MSRP: $14.99 U.S. / $16.99 CAN.
PERFECT SQUARE FREE COMIC BOOK DAY 2015 SAMPLER
Sample the action, exotic locales and imaginative characters of the latest POKÉMON ADVENTURES manga series – POKÉMON ADVENTURES X•Y – based on the Pokémon X and Pokémon Y video games and the newest story arc for the popular entertainment property to join Perfect Square’s expansive catalog of POKÉMON manga and anime titles.
In POKÉMON ADVENTURES X•Y (rated ‘A’ for All Ages) some of your favorite Pokémon game characters jump out of the screen and into the pages of this action-packed comic! The new series is written by Hidenori Kusaka with artwork by Satoshi Yamamoto. Legendary Pokémon Xerneas and Yveltal’s battle against each other is destroying Vaniville Town. Can X and Y save the town and its residents?! Also catch a special bonus mini-feature of the original Pokémon ADVENTURES series as well as Pokémon ADVENTURES BLACK & WHITE!
For information on other all-ages titles available from the Perfect Square imprint, please visit: www.perfectsquare.com.
For more information on Shonen Jump and other manga titles published by VIZ Media, please visit: www.viz.com.
-------------------
Netflix Has New Episodes of "The Adventures of Puss in Boots"
The Adventures of Puss in Boots returns to Netflix from DreamWorks Animation
On Friday, May 8, 2015, DreamWorks Animation’s wildly popular The Adventures of Puss in Boots returns to Netflix with five all-new hilarious episodes. Viewers will join Puss In Boots, Dulcinea and the denizens of the enchanted village of San Lorenzo for fantastic, comedic adventures. In the new episodes, they journey to find the Fountain of Youth to save Puss's old mentor, El Guante Blanco; discover a powerful, talking sword in a stone (voiced by John Rhys-Davies of Raiders of the Lost Ark and Lord of the Rings); and come face-to-face with a giant, marauding Golem who has an unexpectedly soft heart.
Also, Puss was the first CG-animated character ever to host a full category on Jeopardy this week! Thanks to the magic of animation, Puss "recorded" clues for an entire category called "Not as Great as Puss In Boots." You can check out the clip here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KsmywB3qJu0
The Adventures of Puss in Boots is just one of DreamWorks Animation’s popular original animated series on Netflix, providing quality entertainment for kids and families. DWA TV's ever-growing slate of animated Netflix original series also includes "Turbo FAST," “VeggieTales in the House” and “All Hail King Julien,” which recently received three Daytime Emmy awards, including Best Children’s Animated Program! An all-new Netflix original series from DreamWorks Animation, "Dragons: Race to the Edge," premieres June 26, 2015 followed late this summer by the original prehistoric adventure "Dinotrux."
-----------------
On Friday, May 8, 2015, DreamWorks Animation’s wildly popular The Adventures of Puss in Boots returns to Netflix with five all-new hilarious episodes. Viewers will join Puss In Boots, Dulcinea and the denizens of the enchanted village of San Lorenzo for fantastic, comedic adventures. In the new episodes, they journey to find the Fountain of Youth to save Puss's old mentor, El Guante Blanco; discover a powerful, talking sword in a stone (voiced by John Rhys-Davies of Raiders of the Lost Ark and Lord of the Rings); and come face-to-face with a giant, marauding Golem who has an unexpectedly soft heart.
Also, Puss was the first CG-animated character ever to host a full category on Jeopardy this week! Thanks to the magic of animation, Puss "recorded" clues for an entire category called "Not as Great as Puss In Boots." You can check out the clip here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KsmywB3qJu0
The Adventures of Puss in Boots is just one of DreamWorks Animation’s popular original animated series on Netflix, providing quality entertainment for kids and families. DWA TV's ever-growing slate of animated Netflix original series also includes "Turbo FAST," “VeggieTales in the House” and “All Hail King Julien,” which recently received three Daytime Emmy awards, including Best Children’s Animated Program! An all-new Netflix original series from DreamWorks Animation, "Dragons: Race to the Edge," premieres June 26, 2015 followed late this summer by the original prehistoric adventure "Dinotrux."
-----------------
Labels:
animation news,
Digital-Web-MultiPlatform,
DreamWorks Animation,
Netflix,
press release,
Web TV news
Review: "Dracula Untold" is a Pretty Thing
TRASH IN MY EYE No. 19 (of 2015) by
Leroy Douresseaux
Dracula Untold (2014)
Running time: 92 minutes (1 hour, 32 minutes)
MPAA – PG-13 for intense sequences of warfare, vampire attacks, disturbing images, and some sensuality
DIRECTOR: Gary Shore
WRITERS: Matt Sazama and Burk Sharpless (based on characters created by Bram Stoker)
PRODUCER: Michael De Luca
CINEMATOGRAPHER: John Schwartzman (D.o.P.)
EDITOR: Richard Pearson
COMPOSER: Ramin Djawadi
ACTION/FANTASY
Starring: Luke Evans, Sarah Gordon, Dominic Cooper, Art Parkinson, Charles Dance, Dairmaid Murtagh, Paul Kaye, William Houston, Noah Huntley, Ferdinand Kingsley, Joseph Long, Thor Kristjansson, Ronan Vibert, and Zach McGowan
Dracula Untold is a 2014 action-fantasy and vampire film from director Gary Shore. This film's screenplay, written by Matt Sazama and Burk Sharpless, takes the title character for Bram Stoker's novel, Dracula (1897), and real-life historical figure, Vlad the Imapler, and combines them. The two writers re-imagine both the fictional story of Count Dracula and the true story of Vlad. Dracula Untold focuses on a young prince who must become a monster to save his people from a massive army. Thomas Tull of Legendary Pictures is one of this film's executive producers.
Dracula Untold is narrated by a man who proceeds to tell the story of Vlad the Impaler, the prince of Wallachia and Transylvania. When Vlad was a boy, he was a royal hostage of Sultan Mehmed II (Dominic Cooper), the ruler of the Ottoman Empire. Vlad was trained to be a soldier in the Sultan's elite Janissary Corps, and he became their most feared warrior. He earned the nickname “Vlad the Impaler,” because of the methods by which he slaughtering thousands.
In 1442, the adult Vlad (Luke Evans) now rules his people. He is a husband to his wife, Mirena (Sarah Gordon), and a father to his young son, Ingeras (Art Parkinson). Vlad rules his kingdom in peace, but it seems that the Turks of the Ottoman Empire now want more from him than gold and jewels as tribute. They want boys who can become soldiers, as Vlad once was, and the Sultan even demands that Vlad turn Ingeras over to him.
Vlad does not want use his son or any other boy as tribute to Mehmed II, but he is powerless against the Sultan's army which is tens of thousands strong. However, deep in the mysterious Broken Tooth Mountain hides a creature (Charles Dance) that can give Vlad the power he needs to defeat the Ottoman Empire. Is Vlad willing to pay the ultimate price for the power that will turn him into the legendary vampire, Dracula?
Over many decades of watching movies, I have gradually come to understand and admire aspects of film-making that I had once not understood. I love high production values, which is why I am a fan of costume dramas and periods films. I love beautiful cinematography and gorgeous production design and art direction. I have come to appreciate costume design, especially in the last decade. Another aspect at which I am paying more attention is the work of movie make-up and hair artists.
In Dracula Untold, the costume designers and especially the make-up artists stand out. I can't remember a film in which I have seen so many good looking people, not just the well-dressed royals but also the regular folks, soldiers, and peasants. Honestly, I wouldn't mind wearing the well-designed “rags” worn by the poor folks in this movie. Thanks to make-up and hair, many characters in this movie are too pretty to die, especially the super-gorgeous Mehmed II played by Dominic Cooper and one of Mehmed's assassins, the lethally beautiful “Bright Eyes,” portrayed by Thor Kristjansson.
I won't lie; I thoroughly enjoyed Dracula Untold, but it is not a particularly good movie. Thanks to costume, make-up and hair, and Luke Evans as such a handsome Dracula this movie manages to be a little more than it should be. However, Evans is not a particularly memorable Dracula. In fact, there is not much imagination in the re-imagining of this Dracula. I am giving Dracula Untold a high rating because of the costumes and make-up and hair, which are still dazzling me days after I saw the movie. The beauty in the production values of Dracula Untold makes it stand-out, even if it is neither a stand-out Dracula film nor a particularly imaginative vampire film.
7 of 10
B+
Saturday, April 25, 2015
The text is copyright © 2014 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this site for syndication rights and fees.
Running time: 92 minutes (1 hour, 32 minutes)
MPAA – PG-13 for intense sequences of warfare, vampire attacks, disturbing images, and some sensuality
DIRECTOR: Gary Shore
WRITERS: Matt Sazama and Burk Sharpless (based on characters created by Bram Stoker)
PRODUCER: Michael De Luca
CINEMATOGRAPHER: John Schwartzman (D.o.P.)
EDITOR: Richard Pearson
COMPOSER: Ramin Djawadi
ACTION/FANTASY
Starring: Luke Evans, Sarah Gordon, Dominic Cooper, Art Parkinson, Charles Dance, Dairmaid Murtagh, Paul Kaye, William Houston, Noah Huntley, Ferdinand Kingsley, Joseph Long, Thor Kristjansson, Ronan Vibert, and Zach McGowan
Dracula Untold is a 2014 action-fantasy and vampire film from director Gary Shore. This film's screenplay, written by Matt Sazama and Burk Sharpless, takes the title character for Bram Stoker's novel, Dracula (1897), and real-life historical figure, Vlad the Imapler, and combines them. The two writers re-imagine both the fictional story of Count Dracula and the true story of Vlad. Dracula Untold focuses on a young prince who must become a monster to save his people from a massive army. Thomas Tull of Legendary Pictures is one of this film's executive producers.
Dracula Untold is narrated by a man who proceeds to tell the story of Vlad the Impaler, the prince of Wallachia and Transylvania. When Vlad was a boy, he was a royal hostage of Sultan Mehmed II (Dominic Cooper), the ruler of the Ottoman Empire. Vlad was trained to be a soldier in the Sultan's elite Janissary Corps, and he became their most feared warrior. He earned the nickname “Vlad the Impaler,” because of the methods by which he slaughtering thousands.
In 1442, the adult Vlad (Luke Evans) now rules his people. He is a husband to his wife, Mirena (Sarah Gordon), and a father to his young son, Ingeras (Art Parkinson). Vlad rules his kingdom in peace, but it seems that the Turks of the Ottoman Empire now want more from him than gold and jewels as tribute. They want boys who can become soldiers, as Vlad once was, and the Sultan even demands that Vlad turn Ingeras over to him.
Vlad does not want use his son or any other boy as tribute to Mehmed II, but he is powerless against the Sultan's army which is tens of thousands strong. However, deep in the mysterious Broken Tooth Mountain hides a creature (Charles Dance) that can give Vlad the power he needs to defeat the Ottoman Empire. Is Vlad willing to pay the ultimate price for the power that will turn him into the legendary vampire, Dracula?
Over many decades of watching movies, I have gradually come to understand and admire aspects of film-making that I had once not understood. I love high production values, which is why I am a fan of costume dramas and periods films. I love beautiful cinematography and gorgeous production design and art direction. I have come to appreciate costume design, especially in the last decade. Another aspect at which I am paying more attention is the work of movie make-up and hair artists.
In Dracula Untold, the costume designers and especially the make-up artists stand out. I can't remember a film in which I have seen so many good looking people, not just the well-dressed royals but also the regular folks, soldiers, and peasants. Honestly, I wouldn't mind wearing the well-designed “rags” worn by the poor folks in this movie. Thanks to make-up and hair, many characters in this movie are too pretty to die, especially the super-gorgeous Mehmed II played by Dominic Cooper and one of Mehmed's assassins, the lethally beautiful “Bright Eyes,” portrayed by Thor Kristjansson.
I won't lie; I thoroughly enjoyed Dracula Untold, but it is not a particularly good movie. Thanks to costume, make-up and hair, and Luke Evans as such a handsome Dracula this movie manages to be a little more than it should be. However, Evans is not a particularly memorable Dracula. In fact, there is not much imagination in the re-imagining of this Dracula. I am giving Dracula Untold a high rating because of the costumes and make-up and hair, which are still dazzling me days after I saw the movie. The beauty in the production values of Dracula Untold makes it stand-out, even if it is neither a stand-out Dracula film nor a particularly imaginative vampire film.
7 of 10
B+
Saturday, April 25, 2015
The text is copyright © 2014 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this site for syndication rights and fees.
Labels:
2014,
Action,
book adaptation,
Dracula,
Fantasy,
Horror,
Legendary Entertainment,
Movie review,
Universal Pictures,
vampire
Tuesday, April 28, 2015
Review: "I, Frankenstein" Has a Cool B-Movie Vibe
TRASH IN MY EYE No. 18 (of 2015) by Leroy Douresseaux
I, Frankenstein (2014)
Running time: 92 minutes (1 hour, 32 minutes)
MPAA – PG-13 for sequences of intense fantasy action and violence throughout
DIRECTOR: Stuart Beattie
WRITERS: Stuart Beattie; from a screen story by Kevin Grevioux and Stuart Beattie (based on the Darkstorm Studios graphic novel by Kevin Grevioux and the characters created by Mary Shelley)
PRODUCER: Sidney Kimmel, Gary Lucchesi, Andrew Mason, Tom Rosenberg, Richard Wright, and Johnny Klimek
CINEMATOGRAPHER: Ross Emery
EDITOR: Marcus D'Arcy
COMPOSER: Reinhold Heil
FANTASY/HORROR/ACTION
Starring: Aaron Eckhart, Bill Nighy, Yvonne Strahovski, Mirando Otto, Jai Courtney, Socratis Otto, Caitlin Stasey, Mahesh Jadu, Nicholas Bell, Deniz Akdeniz, Kevin Grevioux, Bruce Spense, Steve Mouzakis, and Aden Young
I, Frankenstein is a 2014 action-fantasy and horror film from director, Stuart Beattie. This film is based on the comic book, I, Frankenstein: Genesis (2013), which was written by Kevin Grevioux, who serves this movie as an executive producer, writer, and actor. I, Frankenstein also borrows a few characters and some story from Mary Shelley's legendary novel, Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus, which was first published in 1818. I, Frankenstein the movie focuses on Victor Frankenstein's creature as it finds itself caught in the middle of a centuries-old conflict.
I, Frankenstein opens in 1795. A voice summarizes the story of Dr. Victor Frankenstein (Aden Young), the man who created a monster. This was a soulless creature that Frankenstein made by patching together body parts from corpses. However, he rejected his creation, which began a war between creator and creation that ended with the creation burying the creator.
Even as he buries his creator, Frankenstein, “the monster” (Aaron Eckhart) cannot know peace, because demons attack him in the graveyard. Two gargoyles rescue the monster and take him to Leonore (Miranda Otto), High Queen of the Gargoyle Order. She gives the monster a name, “Adam,” and tells him that the Gargoyle Order has been fighting a centuries-old war against demons on Earth in order to protect humanity. Leonore invites Adam to join their cause, but he declines.
The demons and their leader, Prince Naberius (Bill Nighy), also want Adam on their side. Naberius wants the secrets behind Frankenstein's creation of Adam, and he has employed a beautiful young scientist, Terra Wade (Yvonne Strahovski), to discover how to replicate the process that created Adam. However, Adam also wants to unravel the secrets to his creation, so he too needs Terra. But will working with Terra threaten to decide the outcome of a war between immortals?
I, Frankenstein currently has a low score with movie review aggregate sites, Rotten Tomatoes and Metacritic. However, I like it. I, Frankenstein is a dark, urban fantasy similar to Underworld, which was also originally created by Kevin Grevioux. For its genre, it has a novel and easy to understand premise, which might seem silly to people who don't like this kind of story or its genre.
The acting isn't particularly great, ranging from overacting (as in the case of Miranda Otto as Lenore) to stiff (as in the case of Yvonne Strahovski as Terra). Some performances are way too fierce (as is the case with Jai Courtney as Gideon, leader of the Gargoyle army). Bill Nighy always seems game to play a dark fantasy baddie, and his Naberius is malevolent and cheesy in pleasurably equal measures.
Aaron Eckhart seems lost as Adam/Frankenstein's monster. It is as if he does not quite know what to do with the character. Is he bent on revenge? Is he curious about himself? Does he just want to be left alone? If it is all of the above, Eckhart doesn't quite get the mix right.
Still, I like I, Frankenstein, and found it hugely enjoyable. I want a sequel.
6 of 10
B
Saturday, April 18, 2015
The text is copyright © 2015 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this site for syndication rights and fees.
I, Frankenstein (2014)
Running time: 92 minutes (1 hour, 32 minutes)
MPAA – PG-13 for sequences of intense fantasy action and violence throughout
DIRECTOR: Stuart Beattie
WRITERS: Stuart Beattie; from a screen story by Kevin Grevioux and Stuart Beattie (based on the Darkstorm Studios graphic novel by Kevin Grevioux and the characters created by Mary Shelley)
PRODUCER: Sidney Kimmel, Gary Lucchesi, Andrew Mason, Tom Rosenberg, Richard Wright, and Johnny Klimek
CINEMATOGRAPHER: Ross Emery
EDITOR: Marcus D'Arcy
COMPOSER: Reinhold Heil
FANTASY/HORROR/ACTION
Starring: Aaron Eckhart, Bill Nighy, Yvonne Strahovski, Mirando Otto, Jai Courtney, Socratis Otto, Caitlin Stasey, Mahesh Jadu, Nicholas Bell, Deniz Akdeniz, Kevin Grevioux, Bruce Spense, Steve Mouzakis, and Aden Young
I, Frankenstein is a 2014 action-fantasy and horror film from director, Stuart Beattie. This film is based on the comic book, I, Frankenstein: Genesis (2013), which was written by Kevin Grevioux, who serves this movie as an executive producer, writer, and actor. I, Frankenstein also borrows a few characters and some story from Mary Shelley's legendary novel, Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus, which was first published in 1818. I, Frankenstein the movie focuses on Victor Frankenstein's creature as it finds itself caught in the middle of a centuries-old conflict.
I, Frankenstein opens in 1795. A voice summarizes the story of Dr. Victor Frankenstein (Aden Young), the man who created a monster. This was a soulless creature that Frankenstein made by patching together body parts from corpses. However, he rejected his creation, which began a war between creator and creation that ended with the creation burying the creator.
Even as he buries his creator, Frankenstein, “the monster” (Aaron Eckhart) cannot know peace, because demons attack him in the graveyard. Two gargoyles rescue the monster and take him to Leonore (Miranda Otto), High Queen of the Gargoyle Order. She gives the monster a name, “Adam,” and tells him that the Gargoyle Order has been fighting a centuries-old war against demons on Earth in order to protect humanity. Leonore invites Adam to join their cause, but he declines.
The demons and their leader, Prince Naberius (Bill Nighy), also want Adam on their side. Naberius wants the secrets behind Frankenstein's creation of Adam, and he has employed a beautiful young scientist, Terra Wade (Yvonne Strahovski), to discover how to replicate the process that created Adam. However, Adam also wants to unravel the secrets to his creation, so he too needs Terra. But will working with Terra threaten to decide the outcome of a war between immortals?
I, Frankenstein currently has a low score with movie review aggregate sites, Rotten Tomatoes and Metacritic. However, I like it. I, Frankenstein is a dark, urban fantasy similar to Underworld, which was also originally created by Kevin Grevioux. For its genre, it has a novel and easy to understand premise, which might seem silly to people who don't like this kind of story or its genre.
The acting isn't particularly great, ranging from overacting (as in the case of Miranda Otto as Lenore) to stiff (as in the case of Yvonne Strahovski as Terra). Some performances are way too fierce (as is the case with Jai Courtney as Gideon, leader of the Gargoyle army). Bill Nighy always seems game to play a dark fantasy baddie, and his Naberius is malevolent and cheesy in pleasurably equal measures.
Aaron Eckhart seems lost as Adam/Frankenstein's monster. It is as if he does not quite know what to do with the character. Is he bent on revenge? Is he curious about himself? Does he just want to be left alone? If it is all of the above, Eckhart doesn't quite get the mix right.
Still, I like I, Frankenstein, and found it hugely enjoyable. I want a sequel.
6 of 10
B
Saturday, April 18, 2015
The text is copyright © 2015 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this site for syndication rights and fees.
Labels:
2014,
Aaron Eckhart,
Action,
Bill Nighy,
book adaptation,
comic book movies,
Fantasy,
Frankenstein,
Horror,
Kevin Grevioux,
Lionsgate,
Movie review
Tyler Durden Lives... in Dark Horse Comics Free Comic Book Day Sampler 2015
FIGHT CLUB 2
It’s time to break the first two rules of FIGHT CLUB.
Ten years after starting Project Mayhem, Tyler Durden lives… a mundane life. A kid, a wife. Pills to keep his destiny at bay. But it won’t last long, the wife has seen to that. The time has come . . . Rize or Die.
On Saturday, May 2nd, 2015, Dark Horse Comics will debut one of the most anticipated comic book and literary events of the year with a FIGHT CLUB 2 story written by NEW YORK TIMES bestselling novelist Chuck Palahniuk, illustrated by Eisner Award winning artist Cameron Stewart and colored by award winning Dave Stewart. The Dark Horse Comics Free Comic Book Day Sampler includes a 14-page story that adapts the ending of the FIGHT CLUB novel (which fans will recall is different than the ending of the acclaimed film) and leads into the upcoming Dark Horse Comics FIGHT CLUB 2 comic book series. The first issue of FIGHT CLUB 2 will be available at comics shops, select book stores and digitally via the Dark Horse digital store and app on May 27th, 2015.
Each issue of the series will feature covers by bestselling artist David Mack. Additionally, issue 1 features previously revealed variant covers by Lee Bermejo, Amanda Connor, Steve Lieber, Cameron Stewart, and Chip Zdarsky as well as as-yet-unrevealed variant covers by Joëlle Jones, Paul Pope, and Tim Seeley. The series is edited by Scott Allie, Dark Horse Editor-in-Chief.
“Chuck’s work has only gotten bolder since FIGHT CLUB first took us all by surprise in the mid 1990s,” said Allie. “FIGHT CLUB 2 has been generating international headlines for months, but the sheer amount of mayhem and chaos contained in this comic, along with audacious and profound storytelling, will take people by surprise.”
Dark Horse Comics has encouraged fans to further contribute to the mayhem with a guerilla marketing campaign utilizing the phrases "Tyler Durden Lives" and "Rize or Die" in order to win Easton Press limited, leather-bound editions of Palahniuk’s novels BEAUTIFUL YOU, FIGHT CLUB and SURVIVOR. Fans are encouraged to e-mail their photos and letters using the phrases "Tyler Durden Lives" and "Rize or Die" to: projectmayhem@darkhorse.com.
As Dark Horse Comics publishes FIGHT CLUB 2, Palahniuk’s first foray into comic book writing, Doubleday will publish MAKE SOMETHING UP, the novelists’ first ever short story collection, on May 26, 2015. Palahniuk will embark on a book tour later this spring with events in New York, Pittsburgh, Miami, Atlanta, Washington, DC., Kansas City, Chicago and Portland. For more updates on FIGHT CLUB 2 and Project Mayhem, follow Tyler Durden on Twitter and visit the official FIGHT CLUB 2 website and the official Chuck Palahniuk fansite, www.chuckpalahniuk.net.
About Dark Horse
Founded in 1986 by Mike Richardson, Dark Horse Comics has proven to be a solid example of how integrity and innovation can help broaden a unique storytelling medium and establish a small, homegrown company as an industry giant. The company is known for the progressive and creator-friendly atmosphere it provides for writers and artists. In addition to publishing comics from top talent, such as Frank Miller, Mike Mignola, Neil Gaiman, Brian Wood, Gerard Way, Felicia Day, and Guillermo del Toro, and comics legends, such as Will Eisner, Neal Adams, and Jim Steranko, Dark Horse has developed its own successful properties, such as The Mask, Ghost, Timecop, and SpyBoy. Its successful line of comics and products based on popular properties includes Mass Effect, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Aliens, Conan, EVE Online, Halo, Serenity, Game of Thrones, and Domo. Today Dark Horse Comics is the largest independent comic book publisher in the US and is recognized as one of the world’s leading publishers of both creator-owned content and licensed comics material.
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Labels:
Book News,
Comics,
Dark Horse Comics,
event,
FCBD,
press release,
star appearances
Artist Martin Simmonds Talks "Death Sentence: London" Comic Book
Editor's Note: The following is a Q&A of artist, Martin Simmonds, provided by Owen Johnson of Titan Comics to promote the upcoming comic book series, Death Sentence: London #1.
CREATOR SPOTLIGHT: MARTIN SIMMONDS - DEATH SENTENCE: LONDON #1
CREATOR SPOTLIGHT is a new feature designed to provide an insight into the brilliant minds behind Titan Comics’ upcoming creator-owned titles.
I sat down with Martin to discuss breaking into the industry, jumping on the Death Sentence circus, and his work on the series. – Owen Johnson, Senior Press & Marketing Officer.
OWEN: Why comics?
SIMMONDS: My first memorable experience of comics is reading 2000AD and marveling at the great work from artists like Brian Bolland, Carlos Ezquerra, Cam Kennedy and Mike McMahon. The stories were like nothing I’d experienced before, and there was something really appealing about a weekly anthology comic full of such a diverse range of stories. When I was a little older, I discovered my local comic shop and it opened up a whole world of great titles and introduced me to the work of hundreds of amazing artists and writers.
As a reader, comics offer something different in terms of storytelling – there’s an immediacy to reading a comic, but equally re-reading an issue or graphic novel can offer something new that you hadn’t noticed the first time round.
As an artist, I love the collaborative aspect of creating comics - in my experience, it's such an organic process between creators, from scripting to the final pages going to print, and nothing beats seeing the final pages lettered, which is where it all falls into place.
OWEN: How did you get started in the industry?
SIMMONDS: As well as visiting cons and attending portfolio reviews with publishers/editors, it made sense to meet other creators at a similar stage in their careers to me, collaborate on small projects and get our work out there for people to see it. It meant we could exhibit at cons, meet other like-minded creators and hopefully get some exposure.
I was lucky enough to collaborate on a couple of small press anthologies - Dead Roots (with Paul Alexander) and Disconnected Volume 2 (with PM Buchan), followed by working with Mike Garley (writer) on the self-published comic Eponymous. From there I started to pick up a few cover art commissions for small projects/pitches, before collaborating with Monty on Death Sentence London.
OWEN: What drew you to working on Death Sentence?
SIMMONDS: Monty and I had chatted at cons before and got on well, so when he approached me about working on the second volume of Death Sentence, I jumped at the chance. I was a huge fan of the first volume and in my opinion it was THE comic of 2013/14. Monty and Mike created a truly original, anarchic and darkly funny masterpiece with Death Sentence, and I knew it'd be a fantastic project to get involved in.
OWEN: What can readers expect from your work on Death Sentence?
Monty's pulled out all the stops with the writing, so expect some pretty intense visuals to match. Hopefully, all the subtleties and dynamics we've worked into the pages will come across and fans of the original series will enjoy where we are taking things.
We’re both really proud of what we’ve created, and hopefully that should come across in the pages!
OWEN: What are the key influences on your style?
Growing up, I'd have to say Bill Sienkiewicz, Kent Williams and Dave McKean made the biggest impression on me. I love expressive, dynamic styles – so along with Sienkiewicz, Williams, and McKean, I’d list Jock, Frazer Irving, Greg Tocchini, Phil Noto and Tommy Lee Edwards as key influences.
When I first discovered Frazer Irving's work, I got that same feeling of excitement as the first time I saw McKean's work on Violent Cases or Sienkiewicz's Stray Toasters. The way he colours his pages is amazing - really vibrant, intense colour palettes, and definitely a major influence on how I colour my work.
Outside of comics, I'd have to say my major influences are Gustav Klimt, Egon Schiele, Aubrey Beardsley, Coby Whitmore, Bob Peak, Saul Bass and Ralph Steadman.
OWEN: What does creating this comic book mean to you?
It’s my first opportunity to work on a comic for a long run and I’ve really learnt a lot from the process. The chance to collaborate with Monty meant that I not only get to work with a fantastic writer but also on a title that I was already a big fan of. Mike's art in Volume 1 is amazing, so the bar was set extremely high, and I knew it'd be a real challenge to maintain that high standard but that was part of the appeal. It’s been an absolute joy to work on, developing new characters and knowing that you are adding to the Death Sentence universe is really exciting.
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DEATH SENTENCE: LONDON #1
Story by: MontyNero
Art by: Martin Simmonds
32 - FC - $3.99 - On-sale:
June 10th, 2015
Death Sentence: London continues the phenomenal critical and sales hit rampant with sex, drugs and superpowers!
Making this perfect jumping-on point, awesome all-new rising star artist Martin Simmonds joins co-creator Montynero (X-Men Annual, Verigo CMYK) for a wild ride!
The cataclysmic effects of Monty's G-positive super-rampage through London are still being felt...but where are series icons Weasel and Verity?! And what happens when the Americans - and special agent Jeb Mulgrew - get involved?!
Created by writer Montynero and artist Mike Dowling, Death Sentence was a hit with reviewers, retailers and readers the world over. With Death Sentence: London, the scope is bigger, the action bolder, and the storyline more controversial than ever!
"Brilliant. Genuinely original" - Mark Millar (Kick-Ass)
"A more mature X-Men style of comic" - Comic Bastards
"The artwork excels" - Comic Book Therapy
"Like a great punk rock song" - Comics Bulletin
"A high quality, good fun, action-packed, dystopian science fiction comic" - Sonia Harris, CBR
"The artwork matched the story it was trying to convey perfectly" - Pissed Off Geek
"Thought provoking, entertaining & engaging in equal measure" - Comics Anonymous
"The original DEATH SENTENCE was a singular work of art... how do you top that?
...MontyNero and Martin Simmonds achieve exactly that" - Dr. Shathley Q.
Death Sentence : London #1 trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aB-eAiQ6TMI
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